Public Offered New Opportunities to Participate in Montgomery Planning’s Bicycle Master Plan

September 21, 2015 12:00 am

Attend community meetings, comment on our interactive Cycling Concerns Map and watch new videos

Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is encouraging residents to attend the last two community kickoff meetings for its Bicycle Master Plan.Attend the fourth of five meetings tonight, Monday, September 21 at the Wheaton Library (11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD). The fifth and final kickoff meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6 at Walter Johnson High School (64700 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD). Both meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.The last two meetings will consist of a short presentation by County planner and project manager David Anspacher, followed by an opportunity to meet with Planning Department staff and learn about relevant topics, such as how traffic stress affects cycling and the state of bicycling in Montgomery County.

Attendees will also have the chance to comment about bicycling safety and future facilities on an interactive Cycling Concerns Feedback Map, created for that part of the County associated with the meeting location. Community comments will be used to guide the planners during their work (see below for more information).

RSVP:
Monday, September 21 – Meeting 4 at the Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD. RSVP for Meeting 4.

Tuesday, October 6 – Meeting 5 at Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD. RSVP for Meeting 5.

It’s Easy To Give Us Your Feedback On Our Cycling Concerns Map
In addition to the community meetings, the public can comment on bicycling concerns and route conditions at their own convenience online or on their mobile device through a new digital feedback map. With more than 750 responses already, the community is commenting on where to improve connectivity and crossings, among other things. The Cycling Concerns Map can be accessed through an interactive GIS map at: http://mcatlas.org/cyclingconcerns/

Park(ing) Day Bike Corral
On Friday, September 18, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Planning and Parks Departments of M-NCPPC showed just how many bicycles can be accommodated in a bike corral, rather than a typical sidewalk rack. The demonstration was part of Park(ing) Day, an annual international celebration, when parking spaces are turned into parks and other types of public amenities. The conversion by MCDOT and M-NCPPC of a parking space in Downtown Silver Spring showed how eight bicycles would fit into one parking space.

Such bike corrals are especially useful in areas with narrow sidewalks or areas heavily trafficked by pedestrians, where it would be impractical or obstructive to install a sidewalk rack. Installing more bike corrals around the County has been part of the discussion during the kickoff meetings of the Bicycle Master Plan. This plan will provide recommendations on improving connectivity and bicycle facilities throughout the County. Learn more: http://montgomeryplanningboard.org/blog-news/2015/09/17/5330/

Bicycle Master Plan Team Rides in Gaithersburg Kidical Mass Event
On Saturday, September 19, Montgomery County planners participated in the Gaithersburg Kidical Mass ride, a family-friendly bike ride through the community. Led by community leaders Jennifer and Joe Allen, more than 20 residents rode from the Kentlands to Crown Farm in Gaithersburg.

Presentation from September 15
In case you can’t attend a Bicycle Master Plan kickoff meetings in person, the full presentation is available for your viewing online. Watch Project Manager David Anspacher’s presentation on the Bicycle Master Plan: http://mncppc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=23575866-5c85-11e5-b65c-f04da2064c47

September 15 Video recap
Check out this short video recapping the September 15 community kickoff meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8TthbNy9Ns

Questions or Comments?
Contact: David Anspacher, Planner and Project Manager
Email: David.Anspacher@montgomeryplanning.org
Telephone: 301.495.2191